Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Return to Earth After Historic Mission on ISS

New Delhi – Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled to return to Earth today after completing an 18-day mission as part of the Axiom-4 (AX-4) private spaceflight.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying Shukla and three fellow astronauts, will undock from the ISS at 4:30 PM IST on Monday. It is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of California around 3:00 PM IST on Tuesday, July 15.

Shukla, a serving officer in the Indian Air Force, was joined on the mission by veteran American astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. The mission marked Axiom Space’s fourth private crewed mission to the ISS, carried out in partnership with NASA and SpaceX.

During his time aboard the ISS, Shukla carried out a series of scientific experiments and educational outreach initiatives aimed at inspiring young Indian students and researchers. The mission also brought back over 580 pounds of cargo, including essential equipment and research samples from more than 60 microgravity experiments.

In an emotional farewell message from space, Shukla called his time on the ISS “an incredible journey” and expressed deep gratitude to ISRO, Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX for their support. He also acknowledged the contributions of Indian students and scientists to the mission’s scientific objectives.

Reflecting on his homeland from orbit, Shukla said,

“From space, today’s India looks ambitious, brave, confident, and proud. And because of all this, I can once again say — today’s India looks better than the rest of the world.”

Shukla’s successful journey not only marks a personal milestone but also symbolizes India’s growing role in international space exploration.

With inputs from IANS